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suppose he would not. My father wasI do not know what to say. He killed my motherbeat her to death. He tortured and murdered for amusement. Do you know I have no memory of my childhoodno, I have two. I remember my father killing my old pony with a mace because it was beyond work and because I, he said, was too soft to useless animals. And I remember my mother dying. The rest is blank. What he did on his lands I learned not so many years ago by reading the records of the king's court. It was not that I was too young to remember. I was fourteen when Simon came to bring order to our lands." |
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"Oh, Ian" That was why, Alinor thought. That was why Ian could never deny the children anything, never bear to see tears in their eyes, or even sad faces. He had known sufferingtoo much of itand he had known gentleness, and he had gone too far in his desire for the latter. |
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"There is nothing I would not have done for Simon. There was nothing I ever could do for him. He would never permit me to repay that debt." |
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"Because there was none. To Simon's mind, there was no debt. He loved you for yourself, I know that, but what he did for you was because he felt it was the right thing to do. He did not do it for you. Thus, you owe him nothing." |
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"My father's lands were forfeit, but Simon outfaced the king to secure my mother's lands to meand they were the greater part." |
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"Because it was right," Alinor insisted. "Because whatever ill your father did, you were innocent." |
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Ian made an impatient gesture. "I do not care why Simon did for me. It was done. Whatever I have, whatever I am, is his." |
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"Simon is dead, Ian. You are free." |
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"That is a stupid thing to say, Alinor," he said angrily. "Stupid and unkind. Simon lives in you and in |
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